Ben O'Brien
PressBox Staff

As we predict each position this season I thought I would get to the easy spots first. So after we took a look at designated hitter last week, we will start this one by "predicting" second base.

As a lifelong O's fan, it takes a good bit for me to call any player a true Oriole. A man that is more than just a commodity or a number, he is ingrained in the fabric of Charm City. There is a list of qualifications that said player must meet to deserve the title, and Brian Roberts fits the bill.

Roberts is blue collar, he comes to work everyday and does his job. He is committed to Baltimore, his service to the community through Brian's Baseball Bash is well documented. He came up through the farm system, Roberts was signed by O's scout Lamar North and played his first games in 1999 for Delmarva. And after signing a four-year deal with the club a few weeks ago, the O's all-star will likely be in Baltimore for his entire career.

Now that is a true Oriole.

So, I predict that Roberts will start the bulk of the 162 games this year, with Ty Wigginton and Ryan Freel providing reliable veteran back-up. A great sight for O's fans no doubt, to have one of the best defensive second basemen and lead-off hitters in baseball roaming the right side for the forseeable future.